Cable forming machine

ABSTRACT

A multi-conductor cable-forming machine is provided which includes a revolvable frame mounted on a rotatable center shaft having a longitudinal axis of symmetry for the revolvable frame. The frame includes two spaced-apart discs mounted on the center shaft. A plurality of longitudinally extending shafts parallel to each other and to the center shaft are rotatably supported by the discs. The free ends of the shafts are arranged about the periphery of a circle which is concentric with the center of the center shaft. A wire dispensing spool is rotatably mounted on each longitudinal shaft. Rotatable eccentric means are coupled to the free ends of the shafts to maintain the spools&#39;&#39; orientation constant relative to the horizontal.

United States Patent [451 Mar. 28, 1972 Webster [54] CABLE FORMING MACHINE [72] Inventor: George R. Webster, 5014 Moss l-lollow,

Houston, Tex. 77018 22] Filed: Apr. 1, 1970 [21] Appl.No.: 24,530

[52] U.S.Cl ..57/13,57/59 [51] ..B65h 81/08, 1101b 13/00 [58] Field oiSearch ..57/3,6, 7, 9-19, 57/34, 59-65 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,802,328 8/1957 Ritchie ..57/63 X 3,058,867 10/1962 Plummer et al.. ..57/6X 3,130,754 4/1964 Bratz ..57/13 UX 3,138,511 6/1964 Cadwallader ..57/15X 3,292,356 12/1966 Hinds ..57/59 Primary ExaminerJohn Petrakes AttorneyMichael P. Breston [57] ABSTRACT A multi-conductor cable-forming machine is provided which includes a revolvable frame mounted on a rotatable center shaft having a longitudinal axis of symmetry for the revolvable frame. The frame includes two spaced-apart discs mounted on the center shaft. A plurality of longitudinally extending shafts parallel to each other and to the center shaft are rotatably supported by the discs. The free ends of the shafts are arranged about the periphery of a circle which is concentric with the center of the center shaft. A wire dispensing spool is rotatably mounted on each longitudinal shaft. Rotatable eccentric means are coupled to the free ends of the shafts to maintain the spools orientation constant relative to the horizontal.

7 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures Patented March 28, 1972 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 MP. W gm m 5 a 5% & Wm P D Z 5 a 6 M R w mm 6 U/ l l A TTOPNE Y Patented March 28, 1972 3,651,629

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 GEORGE R. WEBSTER INVEN TOR.

BY 77ZzcZacZ P6 7620 1 CABLE FORMING MACHINE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION l. Field of the Invention This invention relates to cable-forming machines including a revolvable frame mounted on a rotatable center shaft for maintaining wire dispensing spools in space alignment during the rotation of the frame.

2. Brief Description of the Prior Art Large diameter cables are usually constructed about a core which passes through a hollow center shaft. A revolvable frame is mounted on the shaft. The frame includes at least two turntables or discs which rotatably support a plurality of Iongitudinal shafts. Each longitudinal shaft rotatably supports a wire-dispensing spool rotatably mounted in a bracket. There are as many supporting brackets and reels of wires as are required to construct a cable with the desired number of wires. Each bracket-supporting shaft is arranged to be rotated one revolution within its supporting journal for each complete revolution of the revolving frame. The rotation of the bracketsupporting shaft is opposite to the rotation of the turntables with the net result that the wire-supplying reels remain continuously in the same angular position relative to the horizontal irrespective of the rotation of the revolving frame.

Accordingly, the wires can be spirally assembled about the core without twisting the individual wires to any appreciable extent. In accordance with prior art practice to maintain the wire-dispensing spools continuously at the same angular position relative to the horizontal, irrespective of the rotation of the revolving frame, required the use of sprockets, roller chains, reels, idlers, pulleys, etc. The use of such chains and associated gear necessitated frequent adjustments and replacement of worn-out parts, and as a result, the cable forming machines were frequently put out of operation. Considerable economic losses were sustained.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a main object of the present invention to overcome the above-described and other known drawbacks of such prior art cable-forming machines.

In accordance with this invention, there is provided a multiconductor cable-forming machine which includes a revolvable frame mounted on a rotatable center shaft having a longitudinal axis of symmetry for the revolvable frame. The frame includes two spaced-apart discs mounted on the center shaft. A plurality of longitudinally extending shafts parallel to each other and to the center shaft are rotatably supported by the discs. The free ends of the shafts are arranged about the periphery of a circle which is concentric with the center of the center shaft. A wire dispensing spool is rotatably mounted on each longitudinal shaft. To each free end of each longitudinal shaft is connected a crank means. The eccentric means are driven by the crank means in time synchronism with the turntables, thereby maintaining constant the orientation of the wire-dispensing spools relative to the horizontal in spite of the rotation of the revolving frame.

In one embodiment of the invention, the eccentric means include a disc rotatably mounted on a ring having a center of symmetry below the center of symmetry of the revolving frame. A number of rollers, arranged about the periphery of a circle concentric with the center of the eccentric disc, extend from the eccentric disc and engage each crank means.

In another embodiment instead of employing a solid eccentric disc, a number of radially extending arms are driven by the crank means through the rollers. The arms rotate on the eccentric ring.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a general perspective view of a portion of a cableforming machine embodying the present invention;

FIGS. 2 and 3 are views taken on FIG. 1 along lines 2--2 and 3-3, respectively;

FIG. 3A is a geometric representation showing the relative positions of the moving and stationary elements forming part of the present invention;

FIGS. 4 and 5 are sectional views taken on FIGS. 3 and 4, respectively, along lines 4-4 and 55;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged view, partly in cross section, of a portion of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 7 is a side view of a modification of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIGS. 1 through 6, wherein the same reference characters designate similar parts. The cable forming machine, generally designated 10, typically includes several sub-assemblies of conventional design which are not shown in the drawings since they form no part of this invention. The improvement of this invention relates only to the wire dispensing sub-assembly, generally designated 11. Apparatus 10 has a frame 12 for supporting sub-assembly 11 and the other sub-assemblies not shown. A drive shaft 14, which may be driven by a suitable electric motor (not shown), rotates pulley 18 through a belt 16. Pulley 18 is fixedly mounted on a hollow center shaft 20. Thus, rotation of pulley 18 will cause shaft 20 to rotate.

A number of wire dispensing stations may be mounted on shaft 20 in a conventional manner. Only two such stations 17 and 19 are shown in FIG. 1. Station 17 is comprised between two circular discs 22 and 24, and station 19 is comprised between the disc 24 and a disc 26. Each of discs 22, 24, and 26 is fixedly mounted on shaft 20 which is rotatably supported in a suitable antifriction bearing 30 mounted on a pedestal 32 connected to frame 12. The other end of shaft 20 is rotatably supported in a suitable forming device 25 rigidly mounted on a pedestal 27. Forming device 25 typically includes a spider (not shown) having openings to allow the passage of the wires therethrough, in a conventional manner.

Stations 17 and 19 each include a number of wire supply spools 34. Six such wire supply spools 34 are shown (FIG. 2) for each of stations 17 and 19. Each wire supply spool 34 is mounted on a stub shaft 36 which is rotatably supported by a bracket 38. Each bracket 38 is secured or mounted on a shaft 40. Each shaft 40 is rotatably supported in suitable openings in discs 22, 24, and 26.

In cable making machines of the type above described, means are provided to maintain the stub shaft 36 for each supply spool 34 continuously at the same angular positions with respect to the frame 12 in spite of the rotation of discs 22, 24, and 26. This is necessary to avoid the wires which are dispensed by spools 34 from becoming twisted about their own axes.

One known means for maintaining stub shafts 36 in their desired positions requires the use of sprockets and chains. Such sprockets and chains are subject to continuous wear and require periodic replacements, tensioning, etc.

A crank 62 (FIG. 3) is secured to each end 60 of each shaft 40 by a locking bolt 64. An eccentric ring 70 is fixedly supported on frame 12 by two brackets 72 and 74. The center 76 of ring 70 is vertically displaced from the center 78 on longitudinal axis of shaft 20 by a distance d. As shown in FIG. 3, the centers 76 and 78 are in a vertical plane. Although it will be understood that center 76 could be on an are 77 traced from center 78 by a radius equal to d.

An eccentric disc 80 is rotatably mounted on ring 70. Extending from disc 80 is a number of rollers 84. Each roller 84 is threadedly secured to a socket 86 which is bolted onto disc 80 by a bolt 87 and not 88.

Each roller 84 engages a vertically extending slot 90 in the bottom end of crank 62. The slot 90 has laterally spaced side walls 91.

As can best be seen from FIG. 3, the center of each shaft 40 lies on a circle 102 around center 78. The center 104 of each roller 84 lies on a circle 106 having for its center the center 76 of eccentric ring 70.

The operation of the cranks 62 and of the eccentric disc 80 will be explained with particular reference to FIG. 3A. Centers 76 and 78 are fixed to ground and are vertically displaced from each other by the eccentricity d. The vertical displacement between centers 100 and 104 is also d. Since centers 76 and 78 lie in a vertical plane, centers 100 and 104 will also lie in a vertical plane. Since the distance from center 78 to center 100 is equal to the distance from center 76 to center 104, there is formed a parallelogram with one leg fixed.

Accordingly, cranks 62 will remain parallel to each other, and hence disc 80 will rotate on ring 70 at the same angular velocity as disc 22; shafts 36 of wire supply spools 34 will remain continuously in the same angular position with respect to the frame 12 in spite of the rotation of discs 22, 24, and 26 on shaft 20.

Referring now to the embodiment shown in FIG. 7, instead of employing a solid disc 80, there can be provided an outer ring 120 which is rotatably mounted on the eccentric ring 70. A plurality of substantially equal-length arms 122 interconnect the rollers 84. One of the arms 122A is made adjustable in length by a threaded bushing 124 to compensate for machining tolerances. Two arms 130 and 132 welded or otherwise secured to the rotatable ring 120 drive two of the cranks 62A and 62B. Arms 130 and 132 form therebetween an angle less than 180.

The operation of the embodiment shown in FIG. 7 is in all respects similar to the operation described in connection with the embodiment shown in FIG. 1. The analogy can be best visualized by observing that in FIG. 4 instead of the disc 80, an arm 122 is employed. The functions of the outer ring 120 and of the arms 130 and 132 in FIG. 7 for continuously maintaining two of the cranks 62 parallel to each other (and thereby all of the cranks 62 parallel to each other) are identical to the function performed by the eccentric disc 80.

The apparatus of the present invention provides considerable advantages in cable forming. Although the invention has been described with reference to certain preferred embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that additions, modifications, substitutions, and deletions not specifically described herein may be made which will fall within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In a multi-conductor cable-forming machine including a revolvable frame mounted on a rotatable center shaft having a longitudinal axis of symmetry relative to said frame, said shaft being rotatably supported on a stationary base means;

said revolvable frame including a plurality of wire dispensing spools, each spool being rotatably mounted on a long shaft having an axis parallel to said longitudinal axis;

at least one pair of transverse discs fixedly mounted on said frame shaft and being displaced from each other;

said long shafts being arranged substantially parallel to each other and to said longitudinal axis, and being rotatably supported on said discs; and

one free end of each of said long shafts extending through one disc, said free ends being symmetrically arranged about the outer periphery of a circle concentric with said longitudinal axis, the improvement comprising:

means including crank means connected to each of said free ends, and

eccentric rotatable means coupled with said crank means to maintain said crank means parallel to each other and to thereby maintain substantially constant the orientation of each spool relative to said base means during the rotation of said revolving means.

2. The multi-conductor cable-forming machine of claim 1 wherein,

each crank means is fixedly mounted on the free end of its corresponding long shaft.

3. The multi-conductor cable-forming machine of claim 1 wherein,

said eccentric rotatable means include disc means rotatably mounted about a center which is displaced from the center of symmetry of said revolvable frame. 4. The multl-conductor cable-forming machine of claim 3 wherein,

said eccentric disc means is rotatably mounted on an eccentric ring.

5. The cable forming machine of claim 4 wherein,

said eccentric disc means is rotatably mounted on said eccentric ring by a plurality of first rollers.

6. The cable forming machine of claim 4 and further including:

a number of second rollers extending from said eccentric disc and being arranged about the periphery of a circle which is concentric with said eccentric disc, and

each of said second rollers engages a crank means and is being driven by said crank means during the rotation of said revolvable frame.

7. The cable forming machine of claim 4 wherein,

said crank means are interconnected by substantially equallength connecting arms, and

two arms radially extending from said rotatably mounted eccentric ring for rotating said connecting arms. 

1. In a multi-conductor cable-forming machine including a revolvable frame mounted on a rotatable center shaft having a longitudinal axis of symmetry relative to said frame, said shaft being rotatably supported on a stationary base means; said revolvable frame including a plurality of wire dispensing spools, each spool being rotatably mounted on a long shaft having an axis parallel to said longitudinal axis; at least one pair of transverse discs fixedly mounted on said frame shaft and being displaced from each other; said long shafts being arranged substantially parallel to each other and to said longitudinal axis, and being rotatably supported on said discs; and one free end of each of said long shafts extending through one disc, said free ends being symmetrically arranged about the outer periphery of a circle concentric with said longitudinal axis, the improvement comprising: means including crank means connected to each of said free ends, and eccentric rotatable means coupled with said crank means to maintain said crank means parallel to each other and to thereby maintain substantially constant the orientation of each spool relative to said base means during the rotation of said revolving means.
 2. The multi-conductor cable-forming machine of claim 1 wherein, each crank means is fixedly mounted on the free end of its corresponding long shaft.
 3. The multi-conductor cable-forming machine of claim 1 wherein, said eccentric rotatable means include disc means rotatably mounted about a center which is displaced from the center of symmetry of said revolvable frame.
 4. The multi-conductor cable-forming machine of claim 3 wherein, said eccentric disc means is rotatably mounted on an eccentric ring.
 5. The cable forming machine of claim 4 wherein, said eccentric disc means is rotatably mounted on said eccentric ring by a plurality of first rollers.
 6. The cable forming machine of claim 4 and further including: a number of second rollers extending from said eccentric disc and being arranged about the periphery of a circle which is concentric with said eccentric disc, and each of said second rollers engages a crank means and is being driven by said crank means during the rotation of said revolvable frame.
 7. The cable forming machine of claim 4 wherein, said crank means are interconnected by substantially equal-length connecting arms, and two arms radially extending from said rotatably mounted eccentric ring for rotating said connecting arms. 